Non-Being



On Non-Being


Non-Being - although this expression is evidently of negative nature - should above all not be identified with 'the nothing'[1] as is done sometimes erroneously, because it [Non-Being] is applied to everything non-manifest, to [those] possibilities of non-manifestation which - by virtue of their very character - can absolutely not be situated inside the domain of Being. In addition also the Void is in this respect not a synonym for Non-Being, but solely an aspect of it, "ie. one of the possibilites which it [Non-Being] holds and which are not the same as comprised by Being and therefore outside of it, even if considered in its totality, which proves well again that Being is not infinite.


Non-Being or the "Non-manifest" encompasses Being and the principles of manifestation, it is identical with the "metaphysical Zero"[2], the non-affirmed Unity in which, as RG writes, "one needs to leave be what is inexpressible, ie. not susceptible to manifestation [...] (meaning) to determination in a distinctif mode." 


Neither multiplicity nor any Unity take part of Non-Being, which by the way is the 

"metaphysical Zero"[2] which while not containing any distinction, is "non-dual" (sanskrit: adwaita) and prior to Unity and multiplicity.DRG341/2



From The Dictionary René Guénon, Jean-Mark Vivenza, DRG




notes:

[1] The Nothing: It "is" nothing, it is pure negation. It is more or less the impossible in its most radical meaning.

RG writes that "the 'nothing' is not opposed to Being, in contrast to what is ordinarily held, [instead] it is the Possibility which is its opposite. DRG331


[2] See also On The Metaphysical Zero



More Texts And Explanations:

antitradition
creation
dualism
freedom of thought
his personal traits
index
individuality
initiation
intellect
intelligence
intuition
Islamic tradition
knowledge
metaphysical zero
metaphysics
metaphysics 2
modernity
mysticism
non-being
non-duality
religion
revelation
rites
role of spiritual master
sentimental
The Source - the Supreme Center
spiritual teachers
spiritual
sunnah
symbolism
tasawwuf
the end of time
tolerance
tradition


back to Signposts < index >

https://www.livingislam.org